High in Plain Sight: YouthZone staff takeaways from 2019 sessions
On Nov. 7 and 8, YouthZone sponsored two sessions with Officer Galloway at Aspen High School and Coal Ridge High School. Galloway is a nationally and internationally recognized instructor who researches drug trends and the drug culture of a community. He uses these workshops to reveal how our youth are high in plain sight and adults are often in the dark.
YouthZone wants to protect our kids, but that protection takes advanced knowledge. As Officer Jermaine Galloway says, “You can’t stop what you don’t know.”
YouthZone staff had some takeaways to share with our community from the November sessions.
Tina Olson, Clinical Supervisor: I learned how much I didn’t know about substances in our community and how it gets moved around. There was so much information that by the end of the day, I felt well informed.
Katie Westcott, Youth Advocate II: I am constantly learning new things from Tall Cop. What amazed me are the everyday items that kids are using to get high. Tall Cop’s slogan, “You can’t stop what you don’t know” is true.
Susie Schmitz, Grant and Data Manager: What continues to resonate with me is the impact of the legalization of marijuana in Colorado without enough regulation. This is not someone else's problem. It is a problem for all of us due to the health implications that lead to a less productive community.
Mary Bess Bolling, Administrative Manager: It was heartening to see over 80 people from all over our valley come together for one common purpose – to educate themselves. Officer Galloway equipped attendees with the ability to see themes and trends that we never would have noticed without his training. It empowered us to be more inquisitive and to trust our intuition.
High in Plain Sight: YouthZone speaker to share substance use concealment trends
YouthZone wants to protect our kids, but that protection takes advanced knowledge. As Officer Jermaine Galloway says, “You can’t stop what you don’t know.”
On Nov. 7 and 8, YouthZone is sponsoring two sessions with Officer Galloway at Aspen High School and Coal Ridge High School. Galloway is a nationally and internationally recognized instructor who researches drug trends and the drug culture of a community. He uses these workshops to reveal how our youth are high in plain sight and adults are often in the dark.
“We are happy we are able to bring Office Galloway back to our communities to keep our local agencies, hospitals, school district employees, parents and nonprofits aware of changing substance use trends in our youth,” Lori Mueller, Executive Director of YouthZone.
These free workshops are intended for educators, prevention providers, coalition members, school administrators, counselors, law enforcement, probation officers, parents, and any interested community member. Only adults will be welcome to attend.
In each session, Galloway will cover a variety of current concealment trends including drug clothing, alcoholic energy drinks, alco-pops, alcohol and drug concealment containers, drug paraphernalia, drug related music and groups, logos, stickers, new technology, youth party tendencies, party games, non-traditional alcoholic beverages, social networking sites, synthetic drugs, OTC drugs, inhalants, concentrates, E-cigarettes and popular party drugs. You’ll also learn about common stash compartments in clothing. Attendees will leave the sessions empowered with the knowledge that we can protect our youth.
Office Galloway tailors his talk to the communities he visits. In this every changing, fast-paced substance use world, he stays abreast with current trends. He comes to this area with more than 20 years of enforcement, prevention and education experience in both urban and rural communities.
“I’ve seen the ever-evolving drug culture trends sweep across our country. For many people, it’s hard to keep up with these trends, and especially to understand what they all mean. Unless you understand the culture, you won’t see it at all,” Galloway says on his website, https://www.tallcopsaysstop.com/
The Aspen session at Aspen High School is Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New Castle/Silt’s Coal Ridge High School session is Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.